Go Red! 2014 Topps Target Red AJ Pierzynski

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Sometimes forget that Pierzynski was on the Sox. His partial season in 2014 isn't exactly the stuff of legends. Especially since everyone was still in the haze after winning the championship in 2013. But, he served a role batting .250 is 72 games for the Sox that year. Just enough to not be memorable. To me at least.

The card itself...I still say I like the Target Red parallels. It gives something fun to chace in retail packs. It's not ridiculously overwhelming. Just a simple matte red border. Just enough to add some variety ot a collection. I do wish the color red they chose didn't clash with the color red in the Sox logo. But, I guess I can't have everything.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

Go Red! 2014 Topps Red Hot Foil David Ortiz

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Not much to say about Ortiz that hasn't been said. From waiver wire pick-up to the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history. In 2014, Ortiz had just led the Sox to yet another title...and "led" he did. His numbers in the World Series was the stuff of legends.

The card itself...is a lot. I'm not usually a fan of mixing horizontal cards into a vertical set. They always just look off. Of course, this picture was just made for a horizontal cropping. But, it still sticks out a bit. Plus the red foil makes an already foil heavy set just completely over the top.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

This Week In Videos! Topps Holiday and Topps Composite!

More videos that you just NEED to see on the Section 36 YouTube channel! If you subscribe already (and why wouldn't you?) you saw all these videos this week, and have the chance to relive them here! If you're not subscribed...watch these videos, subscribe to the channel, and prepare to be amazed!

2023 Topps Composite Blaster Opening!

I was hoping this would be a different product. Remember when Topps came back to the basketball card market after a long absence? They put out their Archives set. It featured players whose rookie cards would have been produced during their time away, in the design of that year’s baseball set. So, we got Michael Jordan in the 1984 Topps design. I was hoping that’s what this set would be. I wanted Josh Allen in the 2018 Topps design. What I got was a football version of the baseball archives set. I didn’t need another Dan Marino Topps card, or Barry Sanders in a design from the 70’s. On the bright side, the blaster was full of stars and top rookies. On the other side, it was a missed opportunity. What do you think?

How did this particular blaster go? I'm glad you asked.

Here's what the box looks like. In a shadow.

And here's a Drew Bledsoe on a Topps Chrome design. See what I mean, though? I have plenty of Bledsoe Topps cards. This one just seems unnecessary. Especially an "unlicensed" version.

Same goes for this Tops Finest looking card of Teddy Bruschi. I mean, sure, always nice to add one of his cards. But...this is really something I didn't really need.

And there you have it. Two Patriots cards out of this box, and they're both retired greats.

If you want to see every card I pulled, be sure to subscribe to the Section 36 YouTube channel! The video of the entire opening will be posted there, if it hasn't already. You will also be able to find an almost endless selection of packs and boxes that I've opened. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole.

How did your box go?

2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box Opening!

The Topps Holiday sets are so much fun. It’s another way to get a different looking card of your favorite player in your collection. One more edition of the rainbow you can try to chase. Or, in some cases, two or three more editions. More importantly, editions that won't break the bank. I love that the set doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still guarantees a hit in every box. What could be better?

So let’s see what magic we find in our winter wonderland!

Here's what the box looks like.

Here's a card of Sox star Rafael Devers. I like how Topps mixes up how they do the "holiday" each year. Sometimes it's a fun border. Sometimes it's a snow effect. This year, it's neon holiday decorations all over the entire card. Definitely different!

And here's one of Section 36 favorite Triston Casas. Again, love the theming.

And there you go. Only two Red Sox cards out of the ten packs. But, they were certainly good ones.

If you want to see every card I pulled, be sure to subscribe to the Section 36 YouTube channel! The video of the entire opening will be posted there, if it hasn't already. You will also be able to find an almost endless selection of packs and boxes that I've opened. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole.

How did your box go?

Festivus!

That’s right, today’s the day! As you can see, I’ve set out my aluminum pole and am ready for the festivities to begin!

While it’s kinda hard to do feats of strength on a blog, we can certainly air some grievances! I’ve even started with the first one. I would definitely rather be in Section 36 right now!

Now it’s your turn. I’m taking this opportunity to allow you to air your blog-related grievances! That’s right. Leave a comment telling me things you don’t like about the blog and its content!

Is the font too small? Too big? Are the sidebars too plain? Too cluttered? Do I write about a topic too much? Do you wish I wrote about a topic more? At all? How about the YouTube cannel? Any issues with that? All with no hard feelings on my part. This is your chance!

I know. Allowing the internet to complain about you can be scary. But, maybe I’ll be able to respond to the grievances and make the blog better for everyone!

Sound reasonable? Ok then. Let’s hear it.

What are your Section 36 related grievances?

I Was Live!

Did you miss it? I decided to try my first live wax opening. This first attempt opened a collection of junk wax packs of cards from baseball, football, and hockey. It was a fun time had by all.

If you'd like to check it out, it's right here.

Of course, you know all that aready if you're subscribed. If you're not subscribed...watch this video, subscribe to the channel, and prepare to be amazed!